A Note from Miss Amy

There are some big changes taking place right now in the life of your small town children’s librarian…

My family has talked about moving for some time, but with the housing and job markets the way they are, we didn’t anticipate it being any time soon. Surprise! Our house has sold and we are making plans to move out-of-state.

I was planning to be here at the library for awhile yet, but circumstances suddenly changed. (You know what they say about the best laid plans…) My last program at the library will be Tuesday, October 25^th. The remaining Fall Busy Bee programs will still continue under another librarian’s direction.

I have enjoyed this job so much. It has been wonderful watching the children grow and change over the last year. I have loved getting to know each of you and your children through the Busy Bee storytimes.  You should know that you all will be missed.

Please do not hesitate to drop me a note now and again.

“Miss Amy”

Amy M. Dittman

dittman.amy@gmail.com

October/November Programming

October/November programming registration has closed. Due to low numbers,  all Monday and Thursday programs are cancelled. Only the 11:00 Tuesday morning Busy Bees program (ages birth to 5 years) will be taking place. There are still some spaces available. If you are interested, please call or stop in at the library to register.

I am looking forward to seeing you on October 25th!

Reminder about Programming

 

New programs are scheduled for the end of October. Information about them is available on this blog (see the previous post) or at the library.

Please be sure to register by October 8^th (deadline was October 1^st). This will give me time to create the materials. Any program with fewer than 10 registrants will be cancelled or combined with another program.

I am looking forward to cozy fall days spent sharing books with you and your children!

See you in October!

October/November Program Registration

It’s time to register!

Busy Bees (ages birth to 5) will meet for stories, songs, and fingerplays on Mondays from 1-1:30PM (Oct. 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14), Tuesdays from 11-11:30AM (Oct. 25, Nov. 1, 8, and 15) and Thursdays from 2-2:30PM (Oct. 27, Nov. 3, 10, and 17). Please choose the day and time that suits your schedule the best. An adult is required to stay with the registered child.

Terrific Tigers (ages 6 to 8) will meet for stories on Mondays (Oct. 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14) and Thursdays (Oct. 27, Nov. 3, 10, and 17) from 3:30-4PM. Please register for the day that best suits your child’s schedule. (Only register for one day.) An adult does not need to attend the program but should be at the library for pick-up at 4:00PM.

Awesome Ocelots (ages 9 to 12) will meet for stories and projects on Mondays (Oct. 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14) and Thursdays (Oct. 27, Nov. 3, 10, and 17) from 4:15-5:00PM. Please register your child for the day that best suits his or her schedule. (Only register for one day.) An adult need not attend the program but should be at the library for pick-up at 5:00PM.

Please register at the Franklin Public Library or call 432-5062.

Class sizes are limited. Please register by October 8th.

Programs may be cancelled or combined with another day if enrollment is less than 10 children.

We All Help Each Other

We are in our second week of Busy Bee story times.

It has been wonderful seeing the children again!

 

So far we have been reading stories about farm animals. We went on an adventure with Pete and Polo looking for lost ducklings on Grandpa’s farm. We practiced counting and tried to solve the mystery of where the ducklings went with Polo while Pete went to find Grandpa. We also read about a little mouse who seemed too small to do anything. He couldn’t carry watermelons and he couldn’t haul hay and he couldn’t paint a wall. He couldn’t even fly a kite for fun! But we discovered that sometimes being too small is really just right. Finally we read about a poor rooster who couldn’t cock-a-doodle-do because of a sore throat. With the help of all the other farm animals, he was able to wake the farmer. The sleepy farmer was able to finish his chores even though he got a late start because all the animals helped him. We had a grand time “cock-a-doodle-doodling” at the top of our lungs!

It seems I was looking for farm animal stories but also wound up with stories about the importance of friendship and helping when help is needed…and no one is too small to lend a hand!

Next week we move on to stories about bears.

Don’t for get to register for the October/November session. You can do so at story time next week or by calling or stopping in at the library.

STORIES:

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Pete and Polo’s Farmyard Adventure by Adrian Reynolds

Rooster Can’t Cock-a-Doodle-Doo by Karen Rostoker-Gruber

You’re Too Small by Shen Roddie

Songs:

All Around the Farm (tune: The Wheels on the Bus)

The cows in the barn go moo, moo, moo

Moo, moo, moo

Moo, moo, moo.

The cows in the barn go moo, moo, moo.

All around the farm.

(piggies in the pen, kitties in the yard, puppies on the porch, sheep in the field, horses in the field)

Horses

Horses in the pasture. (point to the left)

Horses in the hay. (point to the right)

Horses love to run and jump (run and jump in place until the end)

Each and every day!

An Excellent Resource

I have been using a wonderful website called Family Education. If you are willing to register your email address, you will have access to numerous articles, printable worksheets, and helpful information pertaining to families and their children, ages birth to 18.

If you have a minute, take a look at www.familyeducation.com

Autumn Leaves and Cool Breezes and Fall Stories

It is time to think about falling leaves, cooler temperatures, and fall programs.

Busy Bees (ages birth to 5) will meet for stories, songs, and fingerplays on Mondays (September 12, 19, and 26) from 1-1:30PM, Tuesdays (September 13, 20, and 27) from 11-11:30AM and Thursdays (September 8, 15, and 22) from 2-2:30PM. Please choose the day and time that suits your schedule the best. An adult is required to stay with the registered child.

Terrific Tigers (ages 6 to 8) will meet for stories on Mondays  (September 12, 19, and 26)and Thursdays (September 8, 15, and 22) from 3:30-4PM. Please register for the day that best suits your child’s schedule. (Only register for one day.) An adult does not need to attend the program but should be here for pick-up at 4:00PM.

Awesome Ocelots (ages 9 to 12) will meet for stories and projects on Mondays (September 12, 19, and 26) and Thursdays (September 8, 15, and 22) from 4:15-5:00PM. Please register your child for the day that best suits his or her schedule. (Only register for one day.) An adult need not attend the program but should be here for pick-up at 5:00PM.

Please register at the front desk. Be sure your contact information is complete (address, phone, and email, if you have one).

Class sizes are limited.

Please register by September 1, 2011.

Programs may be cancelled or combined with another day if enrollment is less than 10 children. I will post any changes here and at the library by September 6th.

Summer Reading Challenge Treat Bags

Seven children who completed the Summer Reading Challenge were unable to attend the final celebratory party. Your treat bags are available any time in the Junior Room. Please stop by and pick up yours!

Party Pictures

A picture is worth a thousand words…thank you to Mr. Ellis for providing snapshots of our party!

 

FALL PROGRAMMING

Fall programming information will be available on this site and at the library within the next 10 days.

Sign-ups will begin on August 22nd.

I am planning to offer three Busy Bee programs and two After-School Club programs (although that may change to four if I decide to split the age groups). Check in for more information!

Oh, What Fun We Had!

Wednesday was such a fun day! The children and their families began arriving right at 11:00AM. There was so much to do… large floor puzzles. bowling, fishing, reading with the big bear and big puppy from the Junior Room, coloring, games, blocks, and musical instruments. There was also a ball throwing game with a base that doubled as a tent! Oh, and treats…lots of yummy treats!

The Busy Bees seemed most impressed by fishing and seeing how many fish they could catch on one try. The high score was 16!

Musical instruments were a hit and for a while there was a musical parade marching around the room.

Professional bowlers should know that the next generation is well on its way to filling their shoes.

The older boys and girls really seemed to enjoy the new board game I just purchased called Guess Who? and the homemade set of Jenga blocks.

When the children were ready to leave, I presented them with a congratulatory gift bag filled with a magnet, a magnetic picture frame, a bookmark, tattoos, a pencil, bubbles, and a book. (Some children were ready to leave as soon as they got there when they found out the gift bag was  a departing prize!)

Nearly everyone who was invited was able to attend, and I had such a good time visiting with all of you!  Enjoy the rest of your summer..and keep reading!

Summer Reading Program and Challenge Results

It has been quite an exciting summer!

The balloons on the wall on the second floor landing, marking the children’s reading progress, are very colorful. I feel good every time I walk past them just knowing how many books are being read.

A total of 79 children were registered for the Summer Reading Program. Sixty-seven children participated in the Summer Reading Challenge. Thirty-eight children met or exceeded the Summer Reading Challenge goal of 540 minutes of reading over an eight week period.

Altogether, they were required to read for 342 hours…our total exceeded that by 57 hours! What an accomplishment!

 

Here are the remaining story titles we read and the new song we learned.

We All Went on Safari by Laurie Krebs

Way Far Away on a Wild Safari by Jan Peck

Grandma Elephant’s in Charge by Martin Jenkins

Where’s My Mom? by Julia Donaldson

Giraffe’s Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

The Bird, the Monkey, and the Snake in the Jungle by Kate Banks

Peace Week in Miss Fox’s Class by Eileen Spinelli

Peace Tales by Margaret Read MacDonald

Franklin is Bossy by Paulette Bourgeois

And to Think That We Thought We’d Never Be Friends by Mary Ann Hoberman

The Signmaker’s Assistant by Tedd Arnold

 

The Itsy Bitsy Monkey

The itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the coconut tree.

Down came a coconut and hit him on his knee. OUCH!

Out came a lion, shaking his great mane ROAR!

  And the itsy bitsy monkey climbed up the tree again!

Monday, July 18: Programs Cancelled

 

I really don’t like doing this, but Summer Reading programs are cancelled today. I have a nasty summer bug and don’t think anyone else would like it to visit them.

 

 

Please continue reading---even if you haven’t started yet, you could still make your goal by August 1st if you read just 39 minutes each day!

I really hope everyone completes the program and can attend the final celebration. It is going to be a doozy of a time!

SRP Passes the Halfway Mark!

Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes

The Busy Bees talked about babies this week. Babies everywhere have a lot in common: they are born, they eat, they play, they get dressed, they move, they are loved. We pretended to rock babies and kiss babies and play games with babies. We counted ten little fingers and ten little toes. We played “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes”, getting faster with each repetition! For a special treat this week, there were snack bags of finger food: M and Ms, Cheerios, and flavored mini marshmallows…

The week of July 11^th, the Busy Bees will be going on safari!

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox

Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers

Ready, Set, Skip! by Jane O’Connor

Oh, Wombat…

The Terrific Tigers learned about Australia this week. They discovered a small, cuddly- looking, bear-like animal called a wombat. The wombat in our story, however, was more mischievous than cuddly. She stole carrots, begged for food, tore up the garden and dug holes in the most inappropriate places. She even took a dust bath as her new human neighbors were grilling their dinner! We also read about an invisible possum, Hush, who needed human foods to undo the magical spell she was under. Hush ate lamingtons and Vegemite and mornay and pavlova. The Tigers also learned about Aboriginal art and tried their hand at making pointillism pictures. To complete our experience, they got to nibble on Vegemite, a staple in Australian diets but not much to their liking, I am afraid.

Diary of a Wombat by Mem Fox

Possum Magic by Mem Fox

Ready to Dream by Donna Jo Napoli

 

We Went to Australia, Mate!

The World Travelers also ventured to Australia. They learned about the same naughty wombat and the invisible possum. In addition, they heard an Aboriginal tale about how the birds got their colors. We all agreed it was a gruesome tale and the illustrations (made by children) fit the text! After hearing another tale explaining how the kangaroo got its tail, we explored the illustrations in a picture book with pointillist art. While the Travelers worked on bracelets demonstrating their understanding of that technique, they also had a chance to nibble on Vegemite (“Ick!” was a common response!) and lamingtons (much better received!) just like Hush from our story.

Diary of a Wombat by Mem Fox

Possum Magic by Mem Fox

How the Kangaroo Got His Tail

How the Birds Got Their Colours

Ready to Dream by Donna Jo Napoli

Merrily We Roll Along…

The Busy Bees were quite involved this week learning about different forms of transportation. When asked how they could get from one place to another, there were excited cries of “Car!”, “Truck!”, “Airplane!” as well as “Police Car!” and “Fire truck!”.

One story we read was about a little boy who went on a walk. We all kept our eyes wide open, trying to figure out what animals the boy was seeing from the tiny clues in the illustrations.  In another story, bunnies traveled in numerous ways in rollicking rhymes about cars, trucks, hot air balloons, trains, airplanes, and even a wagon. The children liked trying to figure out the next mode of travel from the rhyming pattern.

My favorite story this week was about a trip to the lake on a hot, hot, hot day in a car that was less than reliable. The children in the story were clever indeed, supplying a beach ball for a flat tire, a thermos of soda for a missing gas tank, a surfboard as replacement for a floor that fell off, and a paddle-wheel boat for an engine left by the side of the road! From the steady “brum, brum, brum” of the key being turned by papa to the sticking power of the chocolate marshmallow fudge delight, the Bees were delighted as I by the rattletrap car…and their “wheel” snacks.

The Terrific Tigers traveled across America this week.  They went with Ike LaRue , a dog with a penchant for stretching the truth, on a car trip with Mrs. LaRue and two temporarily orphaned cats. Ike wasn’t happy that he was missing out on a planned cruise. He was even more upset that he had to share his trip with felines, so he wrote to the cats owner explaining his plight and begging for her help (which never came).  The Tigers also went from Ohio to Oregon with a young man and his dog, Tulip. They saw the rolling fields in Iowa, felt the vast, dark skies in Nebraska, and waited for the ocean to appear to them in Oregon. Finally, the children saw Hong Kong while playing the travel game with a young boy and his favorite aunt. The travel game? Grab a globe and a picture book of the world---the children can tell you the rest or grab a copy of the book and find out the rules for yourself.  The children finished by coloring copies of their favorite mode of transportation.

The World Travelers learned about North America this week. They listened to a folktale from Mexico called “The Three Sillies”. They also heard a Native American Cinderella tale that reinforced that being kind and caring is the best way to live a happy life. We traveled with a boy and his favorite aunt to Hong Kong just like the Tigers. To close, we talked about “accidental” inventions like Post-it notes, Velcro, potato chips, and Toll House cookies. The travelers then worked on a transportation mural while nibbling chocolate chip cookies.

Week Two was a rousing success.

Next week…Australia, mate.

 

Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root Bunnies on the Go by Ricky Walton	I Went Walking by Sue Williams The Travel Game by John Grandits	Tulip Sees America by Cynthia Rylant LaRue Across America by Mark Teague
The Rough Face Girl by Rafe Martin	The Three Sillies (a Mexican folktale)

Old McDonald Had A Car

Old McDonald had a car Go, go, go, go, go. And on that car he had a horn. Go, go, go, go, go. With a beep beep here And a beep beep there Here a beep, there a beep, Everywhere a beep, beep. Old McDonald had a car, Go, go, go, go, go. (steering wheel-quick turn; gas pedal-vroom, vroom; seat belt- click, click; brake pedal- stop, stop)

We’re Off!

The first week of summer reading has gone off with a quack…and a cluck…and a woof!

The Busy Bees listened to animal stories. One was about Rosie, a hen who went for walk all the while being followed by a fox. All turns out well for Rosie who makes it home in time for dinner. The fox, however, has a more troublesome adventure! We also learned that a doghouse can be a very crowded place during a thunderstorm…unless, of course, you are a skunk.  Our last story was called Mung, Mung, which is the sound dogs make in Korea. We learned that animals around the world make different sounds and you can hear a number of them at http://www.bzzzpeek.com/ Interestingly, everywhere the cow says moo.

The Terrific Tigers learned about Anansi the spider man from African folktales and the clever Mouse Deer from Asian and African trickster tales. We were all surprised to learn that the mouse deer is a real animal with a body like a deer and a head like a mouse. This cat-sized animal is found in the jungles of Africa and Asia.

The children then made Anansi spider crafts with symbols included in hopes they would be able to retell the story.

The World Travelers started summer reading on the continent of Asia. We read a story called White Tiger, Blue Serpent where a young boy learns the value of hard work and an evil, greedy queen discovers that greed won’t get you what you want.

We then tried using chopsticks to eat steamed dumplings and fried rice which produced a lot of giggles. We drank green tea (unsweetened) and fried donuts. Finally, the children learned the legend of the koi (how they swim up the Yellow River their entire lives.; at the mouth of the river is a waterfall and if the koi make it up the waterfall, they are turned into glorious dragons). The children decorated their own koi with beautiful, overlapping scales.

All said, the first week was quite successful! I can hardly wait for next week.

 

Move Over, Rover! by Karen Beaumont and Jane Dyer

Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins

Mung-Mung! by Linda Sue Park and Diane Bigda

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti by Gerald McDermott

White Tiger, Blue Serpent by Grace Tseng

Abracadabra!

What a wonderful opening celebration for the Summer Reading Program! Forty-four people attended a fantastic magic show presented by Steve Haberman. Steve took us on a tour of the world as he performed tricks related to each country. There was much ooohing and aaahing and giggling galore as tables floated, cut ropes were mended, and pizzas disappeared. I was every bit as amazed as the children to see a bowling ball fall from a paper tablet with a drawing of the ball on it!

Steve wowed us for 45 fun-filled minutes and sent us off covered with the feeling of magic dust sprinkled magic all over our summer reading .

Just a few minutes of the program for your enjoyment:

 

ABRACADABRA!

 

If you haven’t registered yet for the Summer Reading Magic Show, call the library today!

Steve Haberman will present a magical program for children of all ages on Thursday, June 9th  from 6:45 to 7:30PM. .

You can watch a few minutes of one of his performances at http://www.schoolshows-r-us.com/school_show_r_us_website_019.htm

It’s going to be a wonderful event…see you there!

Oh, We are Going to Have Fun!

The Monday morning Busy Bees program is filled! There are still spots available for Thursday afternoons. The Terrific Tigers groups are filling as well. Both of the World Travelers groups, the program for 9 to 12 year olds , have plenty of openings. I really have a lot of interesting books and neat activities planned for this group…take a chance and spend an hour with me each week!

 

If you are planning to attend, please be sure to register at the library BEFORE THE FIRST PROGRAM. I will make a decision about the viability of a program at the end of next week and post any changes here.

Enjoy the weekend!

Summer Reading Challenge

 

Welcome to ONE WORLD, MANY STORIES!

To participate in the challenge, you must register at the library beginning June 1st.

Readers are challenged to read (or be read to) 90 minutes per week for six weeks. That sounds like a huge number until you break it down into about 15 minutes per day!

Once you have read your daily 15 minutes, write the title of the story and the date on your record sheet. Don’t worry if you keep writing the same title---longer books will take longer to complete. Just be sure that you are reading for 15 minutes per day!

When you come to the library, bring your record sheet. Each time you reach the 90 minute goal, you will get a colored strip of paper to glue onto your hot air balloon. When you have filled in all six sections on your balloon, you have met your goal…but please feel free to keep reading! Each additional 90 minutes will earn stars for your balloon.

Each reader to complete the program will get a small treat bag full of essential reader supplies and be invited to a closing celebration on August 3^rd.

There will be an opening celebration on June 9 from 6:45-7:30PM. Steve Haberman will present a magical family program for readers of all ages. Space is limited so you must register!

In addition, there will be programs each week at the library beginning June 13^th and ending July 28th.

The summer reading programs are divided into three age groups:

Busy Bees (ages birth to 5) Programs: Mon.10-10:30 OR Thurs 1-1:30

Terrific Tigers (ages 6 to 8) Programs: Mon. 10:45- 11:30 OR Thurs. 1:45-2:30

World Travelers (ages 9 to 12) Programs: Mon. 1-2 OR Thursday 3-4

We will learn about various countries, wild animals, languages, foods, transportation, and much more. There will be songs, fingerplays, stories…even some crafts, snacks, and games.

You are NOT REQUIRED to attend a program in order to participate in the summer reading challenge. If you would like to attend, you must register in the Junior Room. This ensures that there will be enough materials. Again, space is limited so be sure to sign up early!

The scheduled programs times are tentative until everyone is registered. If we need to, we many cancel a time or add additional ones. The final schedule should be ready by June 10^th. It will be posted at the library, on the library website, and on the blog readingisthebeesknees.blogspot.com

I am so looking forward to spending the summer on a reading adventure with you!

This Week’s Programming

 

 

I am planning to finish our regular programming this week. The break doesn’t hurt a lot but it does make things awkward. With your patience, we will muddle through together!

See you Monday at 1:00 and 3:30; Tuesday at 11:00!

Busy Bees Cancelled

 

I regret having to do this, but Busy Bees is cancelled for tomorrow. I fell today and broke my elbow. I will update you on next week’s programs later this week.

 

Go out and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Summer Around the World

I am finishing plans for the Summer Reading Program. All the information will be available in two weeks. Sign ups begin after Memorial Day.

I am looking forward to an adventurous summer with stories, games, crafts, and foods from around the world!

A Buggy Situation

The After School Club has studied dinosaurs and Christmas stories and Dr. Seuss. I started wondering what exciting topic we could cover for spring. Planting? Flowers? Animals? And then it hit me. Bugs. Who doesn’t love bugs? But what stories would we read? Non-fiction? Picture books? After much searching in the stacks, I found the perfect set of books…about a cockroach and a flea!

The first book we started was Maybelle in the Soup by Katie Speck. Maybelle, a cockroach, decides that for once she wants to eat food from a plate and not off the floor. Her friend,Henry, a flea, tries to convince her that venturing out in the daylight is a very bad idea. Maybelle doesn’t listen and the adventure that ensues was full of moans and groans and giggles from the audience. We only got halfway through the book and can hardly wait to finish it next week!

 

We ended the program by watching the first 30 minutes of A Bug's Life…also filled with giggles.

Want to find out additional activities you can do with this story? Check out:  http://katiespeck.com/katiespeck/For_Teachers_&_Librarians_files/Curriculum%20guide%20Maybelle%20in%20the%20Soup%20Speck_pdf.pdf 

http://yucky.discovery.com/noflash/roaches/

So Many Shoes!

We celebrated PA One Book during story times this week. (For more information about PA One Book, go to www.paonebook.org)

We started by reading the story Whose Shoes?by Stephen R. Swinburne, this year’s PA One Book selection. The children did a great job matching the people to their jobs by looking at the shoes they were wearing.  We also read Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley. What a story!

 

I went to a workshop in Erie in March and was fortunate to come back with several free books. Dog in Boots was the one I picked first, hoping no one would get to it before I could.

A sweet puppy reads Puss in Boots and decides he needs his own pair of splendid boots. The adventure then begins as his splendid boots look lovely but aren’t good for digging. He returns them for rain boots, great for digging but awful for swimming…and so the story continues. The puppy learns a very important lesson, just before reading a wonderful story about a girl with a beautiful red hood! I hope there is a sequel…

 

Then the real fun began! The children and parents moved around the room playing with all the activities from the traveling trunk. There were memory games where children flipped over cards trying to match the different shoes. They could dress Bob with magnetic cowboy, fireman, policeman, and other outfits. A large alphabet puzzle that also showed people in their occupations took up space on the floor. There were also books to read and shoes to lace …even flippers to try on.

Each child took home a book and stickers and a bookmark. It was a delightful time!

Books:

Whose Shoes? by Stephen R. Swinburne

Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley

REMINDER

There are no Busy Bees Story Times nor After School Club this week.  All programs will resume next week, with three sessions in May.

Please be sure to stop in or call the library to register.

Happy Spring!

Miss Amy

Mr. Carrot-Fish

So, we waited a week so see what sort of silliness Mr. Pinkfish would get into for Easter. You see, he rode in a on a magic carpet once, wore a Dr. Seuss hat and St. Patrick’s Day hat, stays warm in a winter coat (glove) and dry in a raincoat (plastic sandwich bag), and loves to create his own costumes.

There was a lot of giggling from Mr. Pinkfish and his best friend, Beauregard, as they waited for the children to settle. Bearegard showed himself first, his “bunny ears” peeking through the materials cart. After saying hello to everyone, Beauregard prepared to listen to the story and we got down to the business of figuring out what Mr. Pinkfish would be wearing. Would he look like an egg? A piece of candy? A bunny? We could hardly wait for him to appear!

Mr. Pinkfish was renamed Mr. CARROT-fish today in honor of his costume… and we all reminded Beauregard not to nibble on him as they sat together for stories!

Busy Bees will return for stories on May 2^nd and May 3^rd with the PA One Book program. This story time proper may run a little shorter than usual as there will then be stations to visit afterwards (puzzles, games, books, flippers to try, a wooden shoe to tie...)

You may visit all of them or none of them. We will have the room until 2:00PM and 12:00PM on those days.

Have a lovely Easter!

Stories:

Milo the Really Big Bunny by Stephen Krensky

The Easter Egg Farm by Mary Jane Auch

Happy Easter, Biscuit! by A. S. Capucilli

Songs:

Easter Bunny "Ten Little Indians" Where, oh, where is the Easter bunny, Where, oh, where is the Easter bunny, Where, oh, where is the Easter bunny, Early Easter morning Hiding all the eggs for your Easter basket, Hiding all the eggs for your Easter basket, Hiding all the eggs for your Easter basket, Early Easter Morning Find all the eggs and put them in a basket, Find all the eggs and put them in a basket, Find all the eggs and put them in a basket, Early Easter morning

Pretty Eggs "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" I woke up on one Easter morning. I opened my eyes and looked round. And on this special Easter morning, I saw eggs all over the ground! Orange, yellow, Pink and blue and purple too, Pretty eggs -- Come here, and I'll share some with you. Robbie the Rabbit Robbie the rabbit is fat, fat, fat. (Pat your belly) His soft little paws go pat, pat, pat. (Tap one hand with the other) His soft little ears go flop, flop, flop. (Arms over head, bend hands over and wave up & down) And when Robbie runs he goes hop, hop, hop! (Hop 3 X )

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

 

We finished watching the Bass and Rankin Peter Cottontail movie today. The children had a great time trying to guess which holiday on the calendar Peter would fall through next on his quest to save his job as Easter Bunny.  Iron Tail tries to ruin Peter’s chances but only ends up helping him to succeed…much to our great delight!

 

After the movie, we read the story Rechenka’s Eggs by Patricia Polacco. It is the story of an old woman who decorates the most beautiful Easter eggs in all of Russia. One winter day she saves a goose that has been hurt by  a hunter. When the goose, Rechenka,  begins to heal,  she accidentally destroys all the eggs Babushka had been decorating during the winter. The very next morning, Rechenka begins laying beautifully decorated eggs and continues to lay one every day for 12 days. Babushka takes them to the Easter Festival and wins first prize.  When Babushka returns home, she finds that Rechenka has left her one  final gift .

After we read the story, I showed the children a goose egg. They were amazed by its size and weight. One of the girls did not believe there wasn’t a gosling inside. I tried to convince her, but I knew I had failed when she gently held it…and sniffed it…and placed it carefully next to her ear, listening for tiny honks. I then showed them a big block of beeswax and talked about the art of making pysanky eggs. We also looked at a few pysanky eggs that my family has made. There are some beautiful examples at this site: http://www.cs.unc.edu/~yakowenk/pysanky/

We are going to have one more class next week. We will finish some Easter stories and make a rabbit paperback puppet. We will meet up again in May. I am thinking three weeks, but we can plan for just two if that better meets your needs. Let me know what you think.

Don’t They Look Like They’re Having Fun

Conducting the Venango Chamber Orchestra certainly was the highlight of my day!

Books, Bach, and Beethoven

Today was the culmination of more than two months of work on a project called Books, Bach, and Beethoven. The students from St. Patrick School promised to read a minimum of ten books during the month of February. At the same time, they were taught about composers and their compositions during their weekly music classes. They also listened to a variety of classical pieces during quiet work time in their classrooms. I also took a number of books about composers and musical instruments to the school. The younger children listened to a story about a day in the orchestra during one of our weekly library times.

On March 17,  Nancy Simpson, concertmistress for the Venango Chamber Orchestra,  presented a wonderful program at the school. Mrs. Simpson talked about orchestras and instruments and answered a number of student questions.  She also brought several violins and even played a jig for the students.

Today, the children attended the spring concert.  (It was delightful watching some of them conduct from their seats along with Mr. Murcko.) At the end of the concert, the students were invited onstage. We presented the Venango Chamber Orchestra with a check for $331.21!They were delighted. As a final treat, the students were asked to conduct a bit of a rousing Sousa march. It was a wonderful way to end a terrific project.

After-School Club Update

What a terrific group we had at the after-school club today. We read one of my favorite authors, Patricia Polacco. It was a perfect story for today as the wind was blowing and the rain falling while we read about making Thunder Cake (recipe is available online). We also giggled our way through a sweet story about a chicken who laid unusual eggs.  Instead of plain white or speckled brown, her eggs looked exactly like what she was seeing when she laid them---sky blue with clouds, Mona Lisa's lips, flowers, ballet dancers! The kids really thought they were awesome. Our last story was about a naughty bunny obsessed with soccer.

We finished the program with the first part of the movie PETER COTTONTAIL. There is nothing to compare with the old Bass and Rankin movies!

Although I had originally scheduled only two programs in April, I found that I have enough stories and activities (and interest) to add a third date, April 18th. I will post a note at the library and talk to everyone next Monday, but I hope you all will be able attend!

The Chocolate Chicken Clucks Again!

We had a wonderful story time today! A new family joined us and their daughter watched wide-eyed as all our zany routines unfolded. Mr. Pinkfish was a hit (as he usually is) and was held for most of the program.

After reading about a rabbit who could only whisper because he swallowed a bee (better cover your mouth when you yawn!), we learned a new song about a bunny. After singing it a few times, I decided we should stand and really get into the motions…and we did!

We also read a great story about a naughty little character named Max who was trying so hard to find hidden eggs so he could win a chocolate chicken. In his desperation, he snitches the chicken and hides away, nibbling it bit by bit while his sister searches for him in vain. The children really enjoyed Max’s silliness. We were able to practice numbers and colors and talk about the folly of eating an entire chocolate chicken!

Little Mouse Meets the Easter Bunny by Harriet Ziefert

Max’s Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells

The Whispering Rabbit by M. Wise Brown

I'm a Little Bunny "I'm a Little Teapot"
I'm a little bunny with a cotton tail;
See me hopping down the trail.
When I see a carrot ---
My ears - they shake!
And then, of course,
A Bite I take!!!
CRUNCH!!!!!

Family Fun

 

Looking for some fun things to do with your child? Check out www.FamilyFun.go.com.

 

There are links to crafts, games, party ideas, food, and much, much more. You do not need to subscribe to the magazine to take advantage of all the wonderful ideas and projects offered on the website.

Erie Children’s Museum

The Erie Children’s Museum is offering a story time and hands-on craft for Toddlers on Thursdays at 10:30AM.  Admission is $5 (children age 1 and under are free). On Thursday, April 21, the story and craft will be about Easter.

That same day, Stephen Swinburne, the author of WHOSE SHOES?, will be reading and creating art activities at 2:30PM. I checked with the museum---no registration is required. You may leave after story time and return for the author program without being charged again. Just tell the desk your plans and keep your receipt.

 

For more information, please check out their website:

http://www.eriechildrensmuseum.org/visit_us.htm

This sounds like a fun day out!

Whose Shoes?

 

We will celebrate PA ONE BOOK during the evening of April 27 from 7- 7:45 PM and

during our regularly scheduled story times on Monday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 3.

Programs will include the reading of the story

Whose Shoes? by Stephen R. Swinburne,

along with additional activities.

Each FAMILY that attends the event will receive

one free copy of the book.

Space is limited.

Registrations will be accepted beginning April 1^st until filled

but no later than April 21^st.

For the sixth consecutive year, Pennsylvania's One Book, Every Young Child program will lead the way and highlight the importance of early literacy development in preschoolers ages 3 to 6.

Chirping, Buzzing, Croaking

I am very fortunate to have a professional collection of books at the library to use exclusively for story time. Sometimes these are duplicate copies of books in the children’s room which ensures I will have one at my fingertips when I need it. Other times, they are books that for one reason or another might not stand up well to circulation. Although I find a number of books to use in both my personal library and our circulating collection, I always take a peek at the professional collection before I make my monthly lesson plans. I found a few gems this month!

 

Children love pop-up books. It is so much fun to interact with the story by pulling tabs or spinning wheels or just watching incredible pictures unfold just by turning the page.

I took off my shoes and sat on the floor so the children could really see the pictures. It was wonderful watching their eyes grow wide when the big flower surrounded by bees bloomed in front of them. They giggled at the tangle of worms that was creeping off the page. One little boy even knew what the dung beetles were rolling, and he and I had a private chuckle! We also talked about colors and numbers. We counted animal legs and imitated the animal sounds.

Don’t shy away from pop-up books. They aren’t as fragile as we adults assume them to be---and the wonder children express as those books spring to life is well worth the care we take in showing them.

Be sure to look for pop-up books in the collection!

 

 

The Very Busy Bugs by Jack Tickle

How Many Legs?: A Counting Book by Lori Foreb

Little Cricket’s Song by Joanne Barkan

 

Songs

“”Five Green and Speckled Frogs

“Five Little Monkeys”

“The Ants Go Marching”

Busy Bees: Cancelled Monday, March 21

Due to an unexpected out-of-town appointment, I must cancel the Busy Bees program scheduled for Monday, March 21 at 1PM. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and invite you to attend the Tuesday, March 22 program at 11AM if you are available. We may have a full house, but I am certain it will be fun. Thanks for your understanding.

Tis a Big Day for the Wee Folk!

I carry an Irish gene that cannot be denied. I like red hair and an Irish jig, a good argument and an imaginative yarn, and potatoes…any kind of potatoes. I had a favorite uncle I was sure was a leprechaun but I never had the chance to ask him. I have a gift of blarney and hope someday to improve it by kissing the blarney stone. Until then, I will make do with what I possess.

We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day this week. Mr. Pinkfish, who is quite unpredictable and wanted to be called Mr. O’ Pinkfish, arrived sporting a lovely leprechaun hat he made himself. He is unpredictable but quite talented. We read a couple of sweet St. Patrick’s Day stories and learned two new songs. My favorite part of the day was when I pointed out to the children that the dog in the story was singing with the family.

“What do you think it sounds like when the dog sings? I think I know,” I said.

I then proceeded to howl a long, loud Irish dog yowl and encouraged the children to join in. They did. I can only imagine what the patrons downstairs thought.

Stories and Songs:

The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day by N. Wing

Hurray for St. Patrick’s Day by Joan Holub

An Eensy, Weensy Leprechaun (Eensy Weensy Spider)  

An eensy, weensy leprechaun came out St. Patricks day (two fingers about 3 inches apart)
To look for the gold that was hidden far away. (shade eyes: look left, look right)
Over the rainbow was where he was told (use your arm to draw a big rainbow)
So with the wink of his green eyes, (wink)
He ran for the gold. (pretend to run)

I’m a Little Leprechaun ( I’m a Little Tea Pot)                                                       

I’m a little leprechaun (hands on hips)
Dressed in green, (point to shirt)
The tiniest man (hold thumb and index finger about an inch apart)
That you’ve ever seen. (point to the other people)
If you ever catch me, so it's told, (make a motion like you're grabbing at a leprechaun)
I'll give you my pot of gold. (make a motion like you're giving something away)

Leprechaun Stew                                                                                                           

Leprechaun stew, Leprechaun stew, (rub tummy like you're thinking about something yummy)

If I don't get some, (clap hands to both sides of your face in an 'Oh No!' action)

 I don't know what I'll do. (keep hands by the sides of your face and shake your head in a No motion)

Give away my pot of gold (Hold out your right hand like you're giving something away)

Give away my shoe. (Hold out your left hand like you're giving a second thing away)

But don't give away my Leprechaun Stew. (shake finger and shake head in a NO motion, a little louder)